R&B and soul musician Brandon Banks grew up as an avid reader and poet before ultimately deciding to later pair his eloquent words with instrumental backing. After two EPs and a collection of singles, Banks set out on the journey of making an album, Natural Progressions, which was released this past summer. Today, breathing life into his contemplative prose, he has released his latest project—Natural Progressions, a short film created with director Jacob “Kuba” Bojsza. 

Natural Progressions begins with Banks’ song “tryin,” in which he openly invites listeners to drop in on his vulnerable inner monologue. “Lost a couple years but I found my path,” Banks’ voice expresses, as he glides effortlessly over fluttery jazz instrumentals. We witness life through Banks’ lens and 35 mm film, capturing moments that feel more like distant memories than novel scenes.

Scenes shift from snapshots of Los Angeles—local business fronts and cars idling along a palm tree-lined avenue—to more surreal images of the cosmos and nature in all of its splendor. We follow Banks along as he pursues his identity and the systems that shape it before the film ends with the artist smiling in the driver’s seat of a car. Maybe Banks is still figuring out where exactly he’s headed, but nonetheless, he’s enjoying the ride. 

Below, VMAN spoke with Banks about the new short film, finding his path, and what’s next.

VMAN: How does your recent album, Natural Progressions, differ from your past EPs and singles?

BRANDON BANKS: Now, I am attempting to use more sonic range in my melodies, and also in the structure of my music. On songs like “Wonderland,” I was grasping at having more orchestral arrangements and vocally I wanted to stack even more harmonies than usual and play more with my vocal range. Marvin Gaye inspires me with how simple yet grand a lot of his arrangements were, so I attempted to experiment more while still staying true to my lyrical content and view of the world.

VMAN: In what ways does the album signify your evolution as an artist thus far?

BB: The reason I named this album Natural Progressions in the first place was to signify that I am evolving as an artist and as a human being. I believe, lyrically, I am able to be more clever and poetic in certain ways, but also directly to the point. For this project, I wanted to make songs that bring about strong emotions in myself and the listener while taking you on this journey of my subconscious. I was a lot more intentional on this project—from the instruments used to the vocal stacks and arrangements. I feel in the past I would allow things to just flow more. Granted there still is a natural flow I allow within my creative space, but flow along with intent brings about more possibilities in the end.

VMAN: Why did you decide to make a visual component for some of the songs off of Natural Progressions and how does the short film elevate some of your lyrics?

BB: I always look to make visuals for certain songs on my project that mean the most to me, and each time Kuba and I work on a visual we are attempting to work our way to making a full feature-length film one day. For Natural Progressions, we wanted to create a visual montage of some real-life elements and also some things that are aesthetically aligned and bring about the feeling of the music. I believe that making the listener sit and watch a longer visual piece helps connect the words to an image outside of their mind, allowing people to see what I see in my head when I’m writing. I also think it’s important for people to know that I live the lyrics I write, so the visual aspect just allows people to connect the dots. 

VMAN: Many shots in the short film portray scenes of your upbringing—such as the landscape of California and family gatherings—in what ways did your setting and your family shape who you are now?

BB: My family has totally shaped who I am now, for better and for worse. I have a sense of pride about where I come from and what I represent, but there is also a lot of pain there that I am attempting to work through within my music. Every death, every celebration, every fight, business venture, dream, and goal of mine and my family I feel rests on my shoulders and the shoulders of all the younger generations. It creates within me a full spectrum of being and belonging—we are all flawed in some way, but we have each other and that’s the most important thing to me. I just hope I am relaying that properly through the music. A life that is full of love, pain, and nuance.

VMAN: “tryin” seems to be a ballad about you coming into yourself. What is your current path now?

BB: My current path is one of understanding. Attempting to understand myself and my ways of thinking, understanding what it means to be a good man, understanding the world I live in, and how I can help improve my life and the life of others around me. I want to truly know myself and be human. I want to free myself from all this pain society continues to cause me and my family and I want to see my brothers free from their burdens. I just want to live in peace because I have lived through so much of the opposite. I believe all these things help me to be a better musician because the more intimate knowledge I have of myself, the science of music and nature, the history of this world, and optimism for a better future, the more I can inspire change within myself and society at large.

VMAN: Tell me about one of your favorite moments from shooting the Natural Progressions short film with Bojsza.

BB: My favorite moment shooting the film had to be the moments with my family. In my aunt’s backyard where everything started, boxing with my brother who taught me how to be strong while four generations watch and eat with us. At the end of the day, I don’t feel successful unless I can include the people who brought me here, so that meant a lot to me because it’s important for them to see how I have grown and celebrate us still being here on this earth.

VMAN: What is one lesson you have learned along this journey in music that you wish you could have shared with your younger self? 

BB: I believe one of the biggest lessons I have learned and continue to learn in life and music is that this whole thing is a process and not an end result. Huey Newton said this about revolution and I believe this concept applies to every aspect of life. There is a process to being healthy in my body, there is a process to being healthy in my mind, one that exists in nature, in music, and in the universe at large that I must respect and lose myself in at all times. I honestly think my younger self already knew this and the only escape from my circumstances was to drown myself in the process and ignore everything else. The difference in me between now and then is that I have more language to articulate my emotions and understand my environment.

VMAN: You’ve delved into cinematography as well as other art forms to bolster your music. What’s next?

BB: What’s next for me could be a lot of things—everything I live in my day-to-day relates to music because I am searching for balance. But expect me to be on tour soon, expect me to be on a mountaintop practicing some kung fu, and then taking on capitalism in the streets the following week.